Car-brake.



:PATENTBD APR. 18,'1905.

G. A. FISHER.

CAR BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1904.

, n I o 1 y v A witwassen UNiTen STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE..

(IIIA RL CS A. FISI-IFR. OF NIAGARA FALLS, NFV YORK, ASSIGNOR OFSIIVICN'IY-'IHRICE ONE-lilUNDRICD'IHS 'IO LOUIS SILBERBURG, OF

NIAHHARA FALLS, NICU' YORK,

AYI) UURT (I, A NDRUS, OF NORTH CAR-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATIGN forming' part of Letters Patent No. 787,363, dated April18, 1905.

Amlieatiou filed May 14, 1904. Serial No. 208,017.

Be it known that l, Cinemas A. Fisnicn, a citizen of the llnited States,residing at Niagara Falls, in the county ot' Niagara and State ol NewYork. have invented new and useful Iniprovements in Car-Brakes, ol:which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to hand-operate(l car-brakes; and the primaryobject ol the same is to provide a brake ol this class with means l'orpositively applying the brakeshoes to the wheels with increased lorcewithout imposing extra strain on the Inotorman or operator and, in fact,reducing the applied l'orce on the brake-stall' or analogous devicerelatively to that usually required to set the brakes.

A further object et the invention is to provide means in a hand-brakefor taking up the slack in the connection to the brake-levers controlledb v a motorman or other operator and increasing the torceproportionately as the power is applied.

The principle of operation embodied in the improved hand-brake is toincrease the tension through the connection with the brakeleversrelatively to the dralt of the elements controlled by a motorman orother operator through the medium of an intermediate controllerconnected to a brake-stall' and the brake-levers, the connection for thelatter being arranged in such manner and operating with the controllerso as to increase the leverage thereon to an excessive extent and obtainan immediate response both in applying and releasing the brake-shoeswithout lost motion.

The invention lurther consists in the conl with. Fig. 2 is a horizontalsection on the line 2 2 Fig. i. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation ol' thecontroller and hanger with which the brake-stalll and brake-levermechanism are connected. Fig. -t is a section on the line l .l, Fig. 3.Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the lower extremity ol the brake-stall'.Fig. 6 is a detail enlarged elevation ol one olI the rollers l'or thebrake-lever connection movably disposed in the controller. Fig. T is atop plan view of the controller` showing a modification in the meansl'or increasing the leverage on the brake-lever connection. Fig. S is atransverse vertical section ol the hanger for the (.fontroller and thelatter in edge elevation, illustrating a modilication in theconstruction.

.Like parts appearing in dill'erent illustrations are designated bysimilar reference notations.

A designates the car-trucks, which are ol" any approved construction andduplicates ol5 each other, and centrally arranged thereon and Vfirmlysecured in position are plates or analogous devices l, havingoutwardly-extending projections 2, to which actuatingarms 3 arepivotally connected in the usual manner and attached by brake-liwers 4to the opposite brake-beams 5 olE each truck, said beams carrying shoesG, as in the ordinary brake construction. 'lhe brake mechanism carriedby the trucks is essentially ol the usual l'orm ol such devices and neednot be particularly described, it being understood that drawing tensionexerted on one end ol each ol the arms I in a certain direction willcause both brake-beams 5 and their' shoes G to be drawn simultaneouslyagainst the wheels ol each truck7 and when the arm is released the partswill be restored to normal position or so that the brake-shoes will hangclear ol" the truck-wheels, the release operation being facilitated bythe interposition of a spring 7 between the arm I3 and the adjacent partof the truck on which the plate 1 is secured.

The gist ol` the invention resides in an intermediate rotary controlleror leverage multiplier S, which in the present instance comprises ahorizontally-disposed double I drum 9 or a drum provided with twoseparate winding-surfaces 10 and 11 by an intermediate circumferentialflange 12. This drum has upper and lower trunnions 13, rotatably held inthe upper and lower members of a slide or shifting carrier 14, the uppermember of the latter engaging side guides 15 at the lower terminals of ahanger 16, which is secured .to the under side of the bed of the car orto the framework beneath the latter, in accordance with the particularcar construction to which the brake is applied. Radially disposed withrespect to the upper and lower heads of the drums and arranged inreverse positions are guards 17, and in the said guards longitudinalslots 18 are formed in alinement with similar slots 18a in the heads ofthe drum. The slots 18 and 18a are engaged by rollers 19, which traveltherein, and connected by a spindle 20, the said rollers, respectively,having upper and lower flanges 21 of greater diameter than the width ofthe slots to bear against the upper and lower sides of the guards andthe drum-heads, as clearly shown by Fig. 3. The purpose of the flangedrollers is to reduce friction in the operation thereof and prevent themfrom becoming displaced or thrown out of engagement with respect to theguards and drumheads. In other words, it is desired that the connectedrollers be maintained at all times in normal position irrespective ofthe pulling strain that may be applied thereto and which will be morefully hereinafter explained. Each of the spindles 20 has an arm 22applied thereto and projected diametrically in opposite directions, thearms being held in planes at right angles to the lengths of the slots 18and 18a and also serve as a further means to prevent displacement of therollers 19.

Each of the brake-staffs 23, located at op posite ends of the car-body,has in addition to the lower ratchet or locking wheel 24 a lowerinvolute winding-head 25 with a baseflange 26, and to said head isattached the outer end of the brake-operating chain or analogous device27, the opposite end of said chain being attached to one of thewindingspaces of the drum 9. The chains or analogous devices 27extending inwardly from the opposite brake-staffs pass overdiametrically opposite portions of the drum 9 and wind and unwind inreverse directions with respect to the drum in the separated spaces ofthe latter, and by the operation of either brakestaff to apply thebrakes the brake mechanism of both trucks will be simultaneouslyoperated.

Attached to the free ends of the arms 3 are the outer terminals ofbrake-rods 28, having intermediate turnbuckles 29 to take up unnecessaryslack and compensate for wear of the brake-shoes. To the inner ends ofthe brake-rods 28 chain-couplings or other flexible devices 30 aresecured and also attached to the outer ends of the arms 22, and

by this means the rotation of the drum 9 or the actuation of thecontroller will be transmitted through the rods 28 and actuate the brakemechanism either in the applying or releasing operations of the latter.

The rollers 19, conjointly operating, maybe correctly termed leveragemultipliers or multiplying means, for when either of thechains oranalogous devices 27 is operated to apply the brakes the rollers areforced toward the center of the controller from opposite directions andquickly take up the slack and at the same time increase the levera e onthe brake mechanism directly carrie by the trucks through the rods 28and flexible connections 30. Owing to the movable attachment of theconnections 30 to the controller through the medium of the rollers, theintensified tension desired to be set up in the rods 28 will immediatelyensue without lost motion in view of the opposite positions of therollers and the rotation of the controller, and any tendency towardtwisting the rollers out of place would be resisted by the flanges 21and the arms 22. Though the flanges 21 and arms 22 will resistdisarrangement or disengagement of the rollers 19, they will notinterfere with the antifrictional operation of such rollers, and thelatter will always be sensitive to movement.

In Figs. 5 and 7 a modification of the leveragemultiplying means isshown, the roller heretofore explained being dispensed with and in lieuthereof reversely-arranged involute heads 31 are attached to the centersof the opposite heads of the drum, and to the bases of said heads theconnections 30 are attached and wind in opposite directions on saidheads. As the connections 30 traverse the heads 31 from the bases towardthe reduced portions of the heads, the leverage is gradually increasedby bringing said connections nearer to the center of the drum. In otherrespects the devices shown by Figs. 7 and 8 are in all particularssimilar to the construction heretofore explained, and likereference-notations are applied thereto.

The involute heads at the lower terminals of the brake-staffs 23 arealso beneficial in the operation of the brake in that in the preliminaryor primal rotation of either staff' a greater portion of the chain 27will be taken up and the controller 8 more rapidly actuated to quicklybring the brake mechanism in braking relation to the truck-wheels withless eort on the part of the mtorman or operator and also more uniformlyand readily take up the slack of the chains or other connections 27.

The movement of the controller in opposite longitudinal directions,through the medium of the guide construction heretofore explained,compensates for wear and is also important when a car 1s rounding acurve and one truck passes onto the arc before thc IOO lIO

other reaches the same or in making a switch. l'lnder these conditionsthe controller' yields or gives way proportionately to the irregularposition ot the trucks with relation to each other without blocking orinterfering with the movement ot the latter.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a very powerful vet easilvoperate.l brake mechanism is provided and which will insure a torcet'ulapplication ot the brake-shoes to the truck-wheels.

By the use ol the improved hand-brake mechanism herein disclosed thevibration and injury to the general car structure is reduced to aminimum, and, further, in view ot the positive operation ol` the severalparts set l'orth a car may be stopped, under normal conditions, within ashorter distance l'roni the time the initial operation to apply thebrakes is pursued than is possible in the ordinary brake structuries.

lla-ving thus lully described the invention, what is claimed as new isI. ln a ear-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stalls, a carrier movably mounted. a drum provided with slots andindependent winding-surfaces and rotatably mounted upon the carrier,leveragemultiplying means movable in said slots, and eonni-ctionsbetween the brakestall's and said wimling-surt'aces and between theleverage -multiplying means and said brake devices.

2. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs provided with involute winding-heads, a carrier movablymounted, a controller journaled on said carrier, and connections betweenthe said involute heads and controller and between the controller andsaid brake devices.

3. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with bralie devices,guides, brakestatls provided with involute winding-heads, a carriermovablv mounted on said guides, a controller Iiournaled on said carrierand provided with slots and independent windingsurfaces, guards securedto the controller and provided with slots in alinement with the slots inthe controller, spindles provided with rollers and movable in saidslots, and connections between the winding-surtaces and involute headsand between the spindles and brake devices.

l. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stalls, a drum provided with slots and independent windingsurfaces, means movable in said slots, and connections between thebrake-staffs and said winding-surfaces and between theleverage-multiplying means and said brake devices.

5. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs, a earleveraefe multi )lvimT c n i upon the carrier, andconnections between the brake-statfs and controller and between thecontroller and brake devices.

6. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices.brake-sta'tl's, a controller' having slots, guards secured to thecontroller and having slots in alineinent with the slots in thecontroller, leverage-multiplying means movable in said slots, andconnections between the controller and brake-statls and between theleverage-11u11tiplying means and brake devices.

7. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with bralie devices,brake-stalls, a controller having slots, leverage-multiplying meansmounted in said slots, and connections betwecn the controller andbrake-stalls and between the leverage-multiplying means and brakedevices, said leverage-multiplying means operatingin said slots to diawthe connections engaging the same closer to the center el the controllerwhen the brakes are applied.

S. In a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stalls, a controller having radial slots, leverage-multiplyingmeans movable in said slots, and connections between the controller andbrake-stalls and between the leverage-multiplying means and brakedevices.

Q. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stalls, a controller having radial slots, leverage-multiplyingmeans movable insaid slots, a carrier supporting said controller, saidcarrier being movable longitudinally whereby to compensate `for theirregular relative position olt the trucks, and connections between thecontroller and brake-stalls and between the leverage-multiplying meansand brake devices.

10. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stalls, a controller movably mounted whereby to compensate 'forthe irregular relative positions of the trucks, said controller beingprovided with radial slots, leverage-multiplying means movable in saidslots, and connections between the controller and brake-stalls andbetween the leverage-multiplying means and brake devices.

11. ln a car-brake mechainsin, trucks provided with brakc devices,brake-stads, a controller provided with radial slots and movablelongitudinally whereby to compensate tor the irregular relativepositions ol' the trucks, leverage-multiplying means movable in saidslots, and connections between the controller and brake-stalls andbetween the leverage-uniltiplying means and brake devices.

l2. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stads, a carrier movably mounted, a controller rotatably riermov-ably mounted, a controller journaled mounted upon the carrier andprovided with IOO IIO

leverage multi lying means, and connecand brake-staffs and between thespindles and tions between t e controller and brake-staffs and betweenthe leverage-multiplying means and brake devices.

- 18. ln a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs, a carrier mounted upon the car to have a longitudinalmovement, a controller rotatably mounted upon the carrier and providedwith leverage multiplying means, and connections between the controllerand brake-staffs and between the leverage-multiplying means and brakedevices.

14. In a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs, a carrier movably mounted, a drum provided with slots androtatably mounted upon the carrier, leverage-multiplying means mountedin said slots, and connections between the controller and brake-staifsand between the leverage-multiplying means and brake devices.

15. In a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-stads, a carrier movably mounted, a drum provided with slots androtatably mounted upon the carrier, spindles provided with rollersmounted in said slots, and connections between the drum brake devices.

16. In a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs, guides, a carrier movably mounted on the guides, a drumprovided with slots and rotatably mounted upon the carrier, guardssecured to the drum and provided with slots in alinement with the slotsin the drum, spindles provided with rollers mounted in said slots, andconnections between the drum and brakestaffs and between the spindlesand brake devices.

17. In a car-brake mechanism, trucks provided with brake devices,brake-staffs, a rotatably-mounted controller having slots,leverage-multiplying means mounted in said slots, and connectionsbetween the controller and brake-staffs and between the leverage-multi.-plying means and brake devices.

In testimony whereof l afIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES A. FISI-IER. l

Witnesses:

JOHN L. FLETCHER, KATHARINE ALLEN.

